Rig Sounding Great!

[JB_From_Hell]

We're trying to sell our house, so my Super Reverb is out in the garage hidden behind some things. Sucks because I don't get to play it much currently, good because (hopefully) it's less likely to get stolen. Anyway...

I restrung my Strat today (back to 10s in standard), and decided to reverse the pickups. I have Texas Specials with the vintage stagger, and I flipped the middle pickup awhile ago. Oz Noy does this, and I think I like the way it sounds, too. Moving on...

Once I got done restringing the guitar, I grabbed my Green Rhino, Crybaby, and headed to the garage. After a minute, the light shut off (motion detector) and I wasn't close enough to get it back on. After spending about 20 minutes tweaking knobs on the pedal and amp without being able to see them, everything started sounding really, really good. When I got done, I saw that the amp's knobs were Treble 2.5, Mid 8, Bass 2. I don't think I ever would've done that intentionally.

Normally if I change a lot of things (altering pickups, changing string gauge, adding/removing pedals, dorking with amp knobs) at the same time, I wind up really unhappy. Today it all added up to the happiest I've ever been with my stuff.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Rig Sounding Great!

It's funny to me how so many guys set their amps by the numbers and not the sound. I've done this myself. Some guys will turn everything on ten, which might work on a Marshall and a few other amps but it can be a disaster on many others.

I find Supers really bright until they are cranked, but I knew a guy who ran his 335 at T8, M2, B2 and it sounded great.

I had one festival using a provided Marshall DSL50, and using my G&L Legacy, only ran the treble and presence on 2. Had several nice comments from some other players and the sound guy about how fat my guitar sounded. Felt good. But definitely not the settings I was expecting to use, or that anyone else was using that day.

And a fun thing to do is to let your GF/wife adjust your amp or a graphic EQ while you play. Guys like that deep "V" mid-cut, while many women will actually boost the mids.

And the room can make a big difference. A cavernous hall with only a few bodies, or a tightly packed club with writhing bodies on the dance floor can play havoc with your normal settings.

Congrats on finding a great tone! It is SO fun to play when it all comes together.

Bill

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Rig Sounding Great!

Learning to adjust with your ears and not your eyes is a difficult thing to do.
You apparently had the ideal situation where you were forced to do it....with great results.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Rig Sounding Great!

Guitars are for mids. No surprise here.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Rig Sounding Great!

Added bonus, with no lights, computers, TVs, etc... in the garage, that was also the loudest with the least noise I've ever had the Super

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Rig Sounding Great!

What vintage is your SR?

Bill

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Rig Sounding Great!

What vintage is your SR?

The serial number says 71, but the local Fender guru thinks it's more likely a 73. Regardless, it's a Silverface non-MV. I pulled V1, and run that 12AX7 as the PI. When I first got it a few years ago, I thought it was unbearably loud (I'd been playing a 15 watt modeling amp for years). Since then, I've gotten acclimated to the Super's volume, and I always miss it when I use the little amps.

Speaking of volume, I was watching Rig Rundowns earlier today, and saw Bonamassa's latest. He's running two 80-watt Twins, two 50-watt Overdrive Specials, and something else I don't remember. Even if you hate the guy, that rig has to be crazy fun to play through.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Rig Sounding Great!

two tweed twins and two od specials? damn! he was using the two twins and two bassmans before. he has the best toys

 

[Artie]

Re: Rig Sounding Great!

Speaking of volume, I was watching Rig Rundowns earlier today, and saw Bonamassa's latest. He's running two 80-watt Twins, two 50-watt Overdrive Specials, and something else I don't remember. Even if you hate the guy, that rig has to be crazy fun to play through.

I watched that too. Great vid. And I love the guy.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Rig Sounding Great!

:bigok:

It’s awesome when the pieces fit together.

 

[LLL]

Re: Rig Sounding Great!

The more mids the merrier.